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Abstract:

A latch assembly disposed in an anti-fire door includes a tube, a
blocking pin, an elastic member and a wedging member, wherein the tube
comprises a main body and an accommodating space. The main body comprises
a constraining slot communicating with the accommodating space, wherein
the blocking pin, the elastic member and the wedging member are disposed
in the accommodating space. The elastic member is used for pushing the
blocking pin and the wedging member to move and making the blocking pin
protruding to the tube and lodging in a door frame. The wedging member
lodged in the constraining slot is used for blocking the blocking pin
protruded to the tube therefore preventing the blocking pin from
retracting back into the accommodating space.

Claims:

1. A latch assembly includes: a tube having a main body and an
accommodating space surrounded by the main body, wherein the
accommodating space comprises an opening, an lateral axis passes through
the accommodating space, the main body comprises a constraining slot
communicating with the accommodating space; a blocking pin disposed in
the accommodating space; an elastic member disposed in the accommodating
space and compressed by the blocking pin to produce an elastic
restoration force; and a wedging member disposed at the blocking pin and
located at a first position, wherein the elastic member pushes the
blocking pin to move along the lateral axis by the elastic restoration
force, the wedging member moves simultaneously with the blocking pin, the
wedging member moves from the first position to a second position and is
lodged in the constraining slot for keeping the blocking pin from moving
reversely when a first terminal of the blocking pin protrudes to the
opening.

2. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wedging
member comprises a bottom edge and the bottom edge contacts against an
inner lateral wall of the main body when the wedging member is located at
the first position.

3. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blocking
pin comprises a supporting member protruded to a second terminal of the
blocking pin, the wedging member comprises a first through hole, the
supporting member penetrates through the first through hole of the
wedging member, and a first hole diameter of the first through hole is
larger than an outer diameter of the supporting member.

4. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 3 further includes a
bearing member disposed at the supporting member, the wedging member is
located between the second terminal of the blocking pin and the bearing
member, wherein a spacing is spaced apart between the bearing member and
the second terminal of the blocking pin, and the spacing is larger than a
thickness of the wedging member.

5. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 4, wherein the supporting
member comprises a first supporting portion and a second supporting
portion connected to the first supporting portion, the first supporting
portion is disposed between the blocking pin and the second supporting
portion, the wedging member is disposed at the first supporting portion,
and the bearing member is engaged with the second supporting portion.

6. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 5, wherein a first outer
diameter of the first supporting portion is larger than a second outer
diameter of the second supporting portion.

7. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 6, wherein the bearing
member comprises a second through hole, the second supporting portion
penetrates through the second through hole of the bearing member, and a
second hole diameter of the second through hole is smaller than the first
outer diameter of the first supporting portion.

8. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 1, wherein the blocking
pin comprises an accommodating hole and the wedging member is movably
disposed in the accommodating hole.

9. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 8, wherein the wedging
member comprises a positioning portion and a lodging portion connected to
the positioning portion, the lodging portion of the wedging member is
lodged in the constraining slot and the positioning portion is
constrained in the accommodating hole of the blocking pin when the
wedging member moves to the second position.

10. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 1 further includes a
guiding member engaged with the blocking pin and move simultaneously with
the blocking pin, the guiding member comprises a constraining terminal,
the main body comprises a guiding rail, and wherein the constraining
terminal of the guiding member is constrained in the guiding rail.

11. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 1 further includes a
blocking member disposed at the opening and contacted against the
blocking pin, wherein the blocking member is a low melting point
material.

12. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 1 further includes a
fixing member, and the accommodating space further comprises an
installing opening, wherein the fixing member is disposed at the
installing opening for making the blocking pin and the elastic member
constrained in the accommodating space.

13. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 11 further includes a
fixing member, and the accommodating space further comprises an
installing opening, wherein the fixing member is disposed at the
installing opening for making the blocking pin and the elastic member
constrained in the accommodating space.

14. The latch assembly in accordance with claim 13, wherein the melting
point of the fixing member is higher than the melting point of the
blocking member.

Description:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is generally relating to a latch assembly.
The invention particularly represents the latch assembly that prevents a
blocking pin from retracting back into a tube.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] With reference to FIG. 9, a conventional latch assembly 400 used
for disposing in an anti-fire door 500 comprises a tube body 410, a
blocking member 420, a blocking pin 430, an elastic member 440 and a
cover 450. The blocking member 420 and the cover 450 constrain the
blocking pin 430 and the elastic member 440 in the tube body 410. High
temperature results in melting of the blocking member 420 and makes the
elastic member 440 pushing the blocking pin 430 to protrude to the tube
body 410 when a fire accident occurs. The blocking pin 430 is wedged in
the tube body 410 and a door frame 600 at the same time to make the
anti-fire door 500 unable to be opened.

[0003] Owing to the blocking pin 430 disposed in the anti-fire door 500,
the anti-fire door 500 and the blocking pin 430 produce deformation
followed by environmental temperature variance of the fire scene. A space
between the blocking pin 430 and the cover 450 used for accommodating the
elastic member 440 instead becomes the space that allows the blocking pin
430 to retract back into the tube body 410.

[0004] The blocking pin 430 departs from the door frame 600 to make the
latch assembly 400 unable to constrain the anti-fire door 500 to be
unable to be opened when the blocking pin 430 deforms to make the
blocking pin 430 retract back into the tube body 410.

SUMMARY

[0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a latch
assembly coupled to an anti-fire door, and wherein the latch assembly is
lodged in a constraining slot via a wedging member so as to keep a
blocking pin from retracting back into a tube for preventing the
anti-fire door from being opened.

[0006] A latch assembly of the present invention coupled to an anti-fire
door includes a tube, a blocking pin, an elastic member and a wedging
member. The tube comprises a main body and an accommodating space
surrounded by the main body, wherein the accommodating space comprises an
opening, and a lateral axis passes through the accommodating space. The
main body comprises a constraining slot communicating with the
accommodating space, wherein the blocking pin and the elastic member are
disposed in the accommodating space. The elastic member is compressed by
the blocking pin to produce an elastic restoration force. The wedging
member is disposed at the blocking pin and located at a first position.
The elastic member pushes the blocking pin to move along the lateral axis
by the elastic restoration force, and the wedging member is displaced
simultaneously with the blocking pin. The wedging member moves from the
first position to a second position and is lodged in the constraining
slot for keeping the blocking pin from moving reversely when a first
terminal of the blocking pin protrudes to the opening

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective diagram illustrating a latch assembly
disposed in an anti-fire door in accordance with the first embodiment of
the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective exploded diagram illustrating the latch
assembly in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a section view illustrating the latch assembly prior to
operation in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a partial enlargement view of FIG. 3.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a section view illustrating the latch assembly after
operation in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective exploded diagram illustrating the latch
assembly in accordance with the second embodiment of the present
invention.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a section view illustrating the latch assembly prior to
operation in accordance with the second embodiment of the present
invention.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a section view illustrating the latch assembly after
operation in accordance with the second embodiment of the present
invention.

[0015] FIG. 9 is a lateral section view of a conventional latch assembly
in a locked state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] With reference to FIG. 1, a latch assembly 100 of the present
invention is disposed in an anti-fire door 200 engaged with a door frame
300. The anti-fire door 200 is able to be opened or closed relative to
the door frame 300. The door frame 300 comprises a constraining hole 310,
wherein the constraining hole 310 corresponds to the latch assembly 100
when the anti-fire door 200 is closed.

[0017] With reference to FIG. 2, the latch assembly 100 in accordance with
a first embodiment of the present invention includes a tube 110, a
blocking member 120, a blocking pin 130, an elastic member 140 and a
wedging member 150. The tube 110 comprises a main body 111 and an
accommodating space 112 surrounded by the main body 111. An lateral axis
X passes through the accommodating space 112, wherein the blocking member
120, the blocking pin 130, the elastic member 140 and the wedging member
150 are disposed in the accommodating space 112, and the blocking pin 130
and the wedging member 150 are able to move along the lateral axis X.

[0018] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the
accommodating space 112 comprises an opening O1, the main body 111
comprises a constraining slot 113 communicating with the accommodating
space 112, and wherein the blocking member 120 is disposed at the opening
O1. The blocking pin 130 comprises a rod body 131, wherein a first
terminal 131a of the rod body 131 contacts against the blocking member
120 that is disposed at the opening O1. The blocking pin 130 is located
between the blocking member 120 and the elastic member 140. The elastic
member 140 is used for pushing the blocking pin 130 to move toward the
opening O1 along the lateral axis X.

[0019] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the latch
assembly 100 further includes a fixing member 160, the accommodating
space 112 further comprises an installing opening O2, wherein the
blocking member 120, the blocking pin 130 and the elastic member 140 are
disposed in the accommodating space 112 via the installing opening O2 in
sequence. The fixing member 160 is disposed at the installing opening O2
for making the blocking pin 130 and the elastic member 140 constrained in
the accommodating space 112.

[0020] With reference to FIG. 3, the elastic member 140 is disposed
between the blocking pin 130 and the fixing member 160, and the elastic
member 140 is compressed by the blocking pin 130 to produce an elastic
restoration force. In this embodiment, the wedging member 150 is disposed
at the blocking pin 130 and moves with the blocking pin 130. FIG. 3
illustrates the condition that before the elastic member 140 pushes the
blocking pin 130 to move toward the opening O1, the wedging member 150 is
located at a first position.

[0021] With reference to FIGS. 2 and 3, in this embodiment, the blocking
pin 130 further comprises a supporting member 132 protruded to a second
terminal 131b of the blocking pin 130. The wedging member 150 is disposed
at the supporting member 132 of the blocking pin 130 and comprises a
bottom edge 151 and a first through hole 152, wherein the supporting
member 132 penetrates through the first through hole 152 of the wedging
member 150, and a first hole diameter D1 of the first through hole 152 is
larger than an outer diameter D2 of the supporting member 132. The bottom
edge 151 contacts against an inner lateral wall 111a of the main body 111
when the wedging member 150 is located at the first position.

[0022] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the latch
assembly 100 further includes a bearing member 170 disposed at the
supporting member 132, and the wedging member 150 is located between the
second terminal 131b of the blocking pin 130 and the bearing member 170.
A spacing A is spaced apart between the bearing member 170 and the second
terminal 131b of the blocking pin 130, wherein the spacing A is larger
than a thickness B of the wedging member 150.

[0023] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the
supporting member 132 comprises a first supporting portion 132a and a
second supporting portion 132b connected to the first supporting portion
132a, wherein the first supporting portion 132a is disposed between the
second terminal 131b of the blocking pin 130 and the second supporting
portion 132b. A first outer diameter D3 of the first supporting portion
132a is larger than a second outer diameter D4 of the second supporting
portion 132b. In this embodiment, the first supporting portion 132a
penetrates through the first through hole 152 of the wedging member 150,
and the first hole diameter D1 of the first through hole 152 is larger
than the first outer diameter D3 of the first supporting portion 132a.

[0024] With reference to FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, in this embodiment, the bearing
member 170 comprises a second through hole 171, and the second supporting
portion 132b penetrates through the second through hole 171 of the
bearing member 170, and wherein a second hole diameter D5 of the second
through hole 171 is smaller than the first outer diameter D3 of the first
supporting portion 132a. The bearing member 170 is constrained at the
second supporting portion 132b. In this embodiment, the elastic member
140 contacts against the bearing member 170, and the elastic member 140
pushes the supporting member 132 of the blocking pin 130 by the bearing
member 170.

[0025] With reference to FIG. 5, the blocking member 120 is a low melt
point material, the melting point of the fixing member 160 is higher than
the melting point of the blocking member 120, preferably, and the
blocking member 120 is selected from a plastic material. The blocking
member 120 will be melted and unable to constrain the blocking pin 130
inside the accommodating space 112 when a fire occurs. Therefore, the
elastic member 140 is able to push the blocking pin 130 to move toward
the opening O1 along the lateral axis X by the elastic restoration force
and the wedging member 150 is displaced simultaneously with the blocking
pin 130.

[0026] With reference to FIG. 5, the wedging member 150 moves to a second
position with the blocking pin 130, and aims at the constraining slot 113
and is lodged in the constraining slot 113 when the first terminal 131a
of the blocking pin 130 protrudes to the opening O1 of the accommodating
space 112 and the blocking pin 130 is lodged in the constraining hole 310
of the door frame 300. The wedging member 150 is used to block the
blocking pin 130 so as to keep the blocking pin 130 from retraction from
the constraining hole 310 of the door frame 300 to the accommodating
space 112 therefore preventing the anti-fire door 200 from being opened.

[0027] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, a second embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated in mentioned Figs. The primary difference
between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is the second
embodiment canceling the supporting member 132 and the bearing member 170
of the first embodiment, and an accommodating hole 133 is disposed at the
blocking pin 130, and the latch assembly 100 further comprises a guiding
member 180, and the main body 111 of the tube 110 further comprises a
guiding rail 114. In the second embodiment, the wedging member 150 is a
pillar-shaped body and movably disposed in the accommodating hole 133.
The guiding member 180 is engaged with the blocking pin 130, and the
wedging member 150 and the guiding member 180 move simultaneously with
the blocking pin 130. The guiding member 180 comprises a constraining
terminal 181, wherein the constraining terminal 181 is constrained in the
guiding rail 114.

[0028] With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, in the second embodiment, the
wedging member 150 comprises a positioning portion 153 and a lodging
portion 154 connected to the positioning portion 153, wherein a first
width W1 of the positioning portion 153 is larger than a limiting width W
of the constraining slot 113, and a second width W2 of the lodging
portion 154 is smaller than the limiting width W of the constraining slot
113.

[0029] With reference to FIG. 7, the lodging portion 154 contacts against
the inner lateral wall 111a of the main body 111 when the wedging member
150 is located at the first position. Referring to FIG. 8, the elastic
member 140 pushes the blocking pin 130 to move toward the opening O1, and
the wedging member 150 and the guiding member 180 are displaced
simultaneously with the blocking pin 130 when a fire occurs.

[0030] With reference to FIG. 8, owing to the constraining terminal 181 of
the guiding member 180 is constrained in the guiding rail 114, so the
condition that the wedging member 150 is not able to aim at the
constraining slot 113 because of the rotation of the blocking pin 130
moving in the accommodating space 112 is avoidable when the wedging
member 150 moves from the first position to the second position.

[0031] With reference to FIG. 8, the wedging member 150 aims at the
constraining slot 113, and the lodging portion 154 of the wedging member
150 is lodged in the constraining slot 113 when the wedging member 150
moves to the second position. The positioning portion 153 is constrained
in the accommodating hole 133 of the blocking pin 130 to make the lodging
portion 154 of the wedging member 150 block the blocking pin 130 for
preventing the blocking pin 130 from retraction from the constraining
hole 310 of the door frame 300 to the accommodating space 112 therefore
avoiding the anti-fire door 200 from being opened.

[0032] While this invention has been particularly illustrated and
described in detail with respect to the preferred embodiments thereof, it
will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art that is not
limited to the specific features shown and described and various modified
and changed in form and details may be made without departing from the
spirit and scope of this invention.